Mar. 21, 2014
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by Olivia Barker, USA TODAY

by Olivia Barker, USA TODAY

When you're on the other side of the velvet rope - literally or otherwise - red carpet reporting isn't exactly glamorous. Those A-listers can be downright rude, as Giuliana Rancic discovered when she was an E! neophyte.

Even mean.

What's been her most awkward interview, wondered a viewer on last night's Watch What Happens Live! ? "Duh!" Rancic said, after acknowledging that "there have been a lot of awkward ones."

"Russell Crowe was so mean to me."

"I had been at E! for a year, and I literally was like, 'I'm gonna go easy because he's pretty tough,'" Rancic recalled. "And so I said, 'Are you excited to be here tonight? Your big movie premiere?' And he goes (attempts an Australian accent), 'I'm contractually obligated to be here. What's your next question?' "

She tried another softball: " 'Um, isn't it wonderful seeing all the fans?' And he goes, 'That's your second question?' And he goes, 'One, two, you're through!' and walked away."